General Spiritual Director
Turning the Wheel of Dharma day and the birthday of our spiritual father
Jun 4, 2025
Qualified Teachers
Qualified Teachers
For people to learn to meditate correctly and apply Buddha’s teachings to their lives they need qualified Teachers. For this reason, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche emphasized training Teachers of many nationalities.
The Teacher Training Program is an essential part of the three core study programs and is available at many centers around the world
In addition there is the Special Teacher Training Program taught by the General Spiritual Director and an Intensive Teacher Training Program taught annually by Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab.
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Qualified Teachers for the modern world
FOUNDER & SPIRITUAL GUIDE
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche has transmitted all the essential teachings and practices of Modern Kadampa Buddhism to his students and provided training and support for hundreds of modern Teachers to carry this living lineage into future generations.
The GEN-LAs ~ SENIOR TEACHERS
General Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong
Gen-la Dekyong is the General Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union. She studied and practiced for many years with her Spiritual Guide Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, from whom she received many transmissions.
As the most senior teacher in the tradition Gen-la teaches throughout the world at major events. She is a fully qualified teacher of both Sutra and Tantra and is greatly admired and deeply loved by thousands of people worldwide. Her teachings are profound and inspiring, and yet always extremely practical.
Deputy Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa
Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab
Gen-la Kelsang Kunsang
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
Gen Kelsang Ananda
Gen Kelsang Eupamé
Gen Kelsang Rabten
Kadam Morten Clausen
Gen Kelsang Tonglam
Gen Kelsang Sangden
Gen Kelsang Chokga
Gen Kelsang Demo
Gen Kelsang Dragpa
Gen Kelsang Mudita
Kadam Bridget Heyes
Gen Kelsang Rinchung
Gen Kelsang Chokyong
Resident Teachers Worldwide
Training qualified Teachers
Those wishing to become Teachers of Modern Kadampa Buddhism train on the Teacher Training Program, one of the three study programs developed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
There is also a six-month Intensive Teacher Training Program and ongoing in-service training through the International Teacher Training Program and Special Teacher Training Program.
The Lineage of Modern Kadampa Buddhism
In the word 'Kadampa', ‘Ka’ refers to Buddha’s teachings and ‘dam’ refers to Atisha’s instructions on Lamrim (the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, also known as Kadam Lamrim). ‘Kadam’ therefore refers to the union of Buddha’s teachings and Atisha’s instructions, and sincere practitioners of Kadam Lamrim are called ‘Kadampas’.
There are two Kadampa traditions, the ancient and the new. Practitioners of the ancient Kadampa tradition appeared to emphasize the practice of Kadam Lamrim of Sutra more than the practice of Tantra. Later, Je Tsongkhapa and his disciples emphasized the practice of Kadam Lamrim of both Sutra and Tantra equally. This new tradition founded by Je Tsongkhapa is called the new Kadampa tradition.
After Je Tsongkhapa, the New Kadampa lineage flourished for hundreds of years, reaching the present day through immensely pure lineage Gurus such as Je Phabongkhapa and Vajradhara Trijang Rinpoche.
In recent years, this precious lineage has been preserved and promoted throughout the world by the contemporary Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, the present day lineage holder.
The dawn of modern Kadampa Buddhism
In 1981 Venerable Geshe-la's Spiritual Guide, Vajradhara Trijang Rinpoche, encouraged him to develop a new presentation of Kadampa Buddhism for the modern world that everyone throughout the world could easily understand and practice. Thus, Modern Kadampa Buddhism was born.
Since that time Venerable Geshe-la has worked tirelessly to develop and promote the precious gift of Modern Kadampa Buddhism. This new presentation faithfully preserves the original meanings of the lineage of Kadampa Buddhism all the way back to Buddha himself while presenting them in a contemporary and easily accessible way.
Above all it is an international presentation open to everyone, not anchored in any specific country or culture.
Buddha Shakyamuni
Je Tsongkhapa
Trijang Rinpoche
Atisha
Phabongkha Rinpoche
Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
